DISCLAIMER: I sadly do not own Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, or it's characters, or anything else affiliated with the franchise. All that belongs to Dick Wolf. The only thing I own, is my own ideas for this story, therefore the only thing I get out of this, would be the pride and joy of people reading this. At least I hope people get pride and joy out of this…

When Worlds Collide

A/N: Hi… How are you today? Hopefully you just answered with some form of okay, or good, or something close to it.. If not, I hope your day gets better! \-_-/ As of now, 3:45 PM on 3/17, there isn't much happening, just figured I'd try to get a head start on this chapter. Hope you enjoy it! |-_-| P.S. Sorry for the longer wait than usual

CHAPTER NINETEEN: ONE OF FIVE

For the first time in nearly twenty-five minutes, Elliot let up on his punishing pace, then stopped for a breather. Both were breathing as though they had just ran a marathon. He pulled Olivia off the counter, and somehow found the strength to carry her to the front door -which was as far as he got for the moment. Elliot let her feet slide down to the floor in front of him, so they were both standing. He was thanking God for giving him Olivia. Olivia was thanking God for allowing her to have the courage to actually take a risk in allowing him back into her life. It was something that was turning out to be one of the best risk she's ever taken. And both were thankful to God for their training and being on the job so long that allowed their bodies to calm down faster than usual, particularly their breathing.

Faintly through the door, he thought he heard a thunk of a car door closing… But shook his head mentally, it was only 10:50 in the morning, he knew church didn't get out for another hour and ten minutes at least, and even if not, his mother was taking everyone out for a day in the park. And Olivia and himself still had nearly an hour before they even called Rafael. At least our breathing is calming. But why do I feel like I'm forgetting something…

"Elliot?" Olivia waved a hand in front of him, chuckling slightly.

"Huh? What babe?" he shook his head again, and looking down the slightest at her.

She smiled at him, and cupped his cheek, "You were gazing off into Neverland, I was scared I'd lost you or something… You okay in that head of yours?"

"Of course, I just feel like I'm forgetting something, but we've got an hour before we decided to call Rafael, and at least another four or possibly more hours before my mother and the kids come back."

"I don't know El. Wish I could help you.." she frowned, deep in thought trying to think about anything he'd mentioned about what, if anything, was supposed to happen before noon.

She got an idea, smirked, and ran one of her hands down to his waist, then to his member, and used her other hand to turn his head towards her again, and looked into his eyes as she stroked him a few times, before sinking to her knees, and licking the underside of his shaft. He groaned, closed his eyes, and let his head hit against the door behind him.

"Damn Liv.." Elliot groaned again when she licked the top of his cock, then put her entire mouth over the tip and sucked.

She pulled back slightly, and expressed her limits to him, "You tell me when you are close, and we can do this again. As much as I love you, the only place you'll ever let go is in me vaginally, not my mouth. I'm willing to do anything, to try anything, but I refuse to swallow any of your semen." She didn't want to drop the mood, and though she knew he would never make her do something she didn't want, just wanted him to know.

He smirked, "You can't tell that you've been a sex-crimes detective for nearly seventeen years at all!" he chuckled, "And I mean that in the best way! I just love how you're so direct about all of this, you set your grounds, and you stick by them. It's one of the trillions of reasons I love you. You know I would never make you do anything you aren't comfortable with doing, right?." Elliot cupped her cheek to look into her eyes, which again, were so dark you couldn't see her pupils.

She nodded in return, to which he smiled, and pulled her up, "You can do that later if you choose, but for right now, I want to fuck you senseless up against the wall there. You okay with that?" he asked. She starred at him for a few seconds, then just grinned, and nodded. He kissed her and pushed her back against the wall that he just told her about. She hit the wall with a fairly loud thud. Elliot pulled back from kissing her to ask if she was okay, but she wanted nothing of it, and pulled him right back to her.

Jesus, it's like we have the sexual drive of teenagers. They both thought, and smiled into the kiss. He lifted her up, and pushed up into her as she was sliding down to wrap her legs around him.

"UGHH! Fuck.. Come on El, fuck me senseless. MMMM, there we go baby, there we go." she moaned out, thrusting her own hips up at Elliot as best as she could given she was up against the wall.

-OUTSIDE-

Rafael thought he heard a thud against the door, waited to see if anything came of it, but nothing did, so he turned back around sitting on the steps. He looked at his phone, and he still had another three, four minutes. Fuck it! I'll just knock now, if Elliot's not here, maybe Bernie would be and could tell me when Elliot -and Olivia?- would be back.

Right as he was about to knock, Rafael heard a thud, and that was a thud this time, a bit farther away, but it was a thud, nonetheless. Then he heard a woman -presumably Olivia- moan, though he couldn't tell if it was from pain or pleasure. He furrowed his brow, when he heard another moan, his 'Lets save the day' mindset came on strong, he wouldn't leave it to chance if she was moaning out of pain or pleasure. Even if it wasn't Olivia.

So Rafael took a deep breath, and at the last second he decided he'd try to have the element of surprise on whoever was possibly doing the beating. He carefully tried the door, which to his complete surprise wasn't locked… When he opened the door a bit more, thankful it didn't creak he saw the back of Elliot thrusting up into Olivia, both were obviously naked as jaybirds, and frankly Rafael didn't know what to do.. What DO you do when you walk in on a co-worker and an old friend having sex.. up against the wall across from the front door about seven feet? And the co-worker happens to be the Sergeant of the NYPD Manhattan SVU…

Olivia had her eyes closed, mouth open and moaning with every other thrust, one leg wrapped around Elliot's lower abdomen, the other down slightly wrapped around his upper thigh, one arm wrapped around his neck, the other… the other doing things to her breast, while Elliot bucked up into her every time with a slight grunt, and was helping hold her up with his arms, and Rafael assumed that his -Elliot's- eyes were either closed also, or were solely focused on Olivia.

The noises they were creating together, they were so lost in each other -physically, mentally, and emotionally it seemed- prevented either one to hear or even seemingly sense Rafael was there. Watching them, Rafael was frantically deciphering if he should just go back outside and go around the block, then knock since they were so close to the door, they'd have to hear him, or speak up now, or quietly try to get passed them..

He finally decided to carefully and very quietly back out and shut the door. Once he was out, he damn near sprinted to his car… He shook his head trying to get the look of Olivia's face, chest, body out of his head. The sound of her voice when she moaned.. No! She's my friend, co-worker, occasional drinking buddy, and occasional confidant.. But the look on her face, and sound of her voice as she was getting closer and closer to her climax. And the amount of hickies she seemingly had everywhere on her body. Oh God, she was a goddess… He'd be lying to himself, and everyone else for that matter, if he denied that he never thought of her naked or sexually. Especially when he first met her. Though now he felt wrong, and dirty for feeling that way about her. They'd become friends outside of the precinct and he wanted it to stay that way.

Now that jittery feeling Rafael always got when he was about to go into court for a big, high profile case, was in his stomach. Except now he wasn't going to be putting on a stoic front for the jury, he'd be trying to put on a stoic front for Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, a current and former friend he hadn't talked to in over twenty years. He shook his head, and decided to go ahead and take a semi- long drive in his car to hopefully calm himself down. He didn't want to make a fool out of himself, he knew even if for some reason they forgot to call him today, he'd more than likely see her tomorrow at work.

He knew that this was an instance he'd never be able to tell anybody. Especially at work, if he flubbed up outside of work, of course he ran the chance of being murdered by Olivia, and possibly again by Elliot, but at least the perps and slime balls they bring in for him to try and hopefully put away for a long time wouldn't hear about it. Was this how they knew each other? Former lovers? They obviously have known each other much longer than I originally thought.. Was he a part of another unit or something for a short time? He wasn't going to think about this, it'd just leave him with too many questions he didn't have the answers to and it was just going to annoy him.

-BACK AT THE STABLER RESIDENCE-

"I still don't know my name… All I can think is that was the best sex I've had in probably ever.." Olivia chuckled tiredly after her and Elliot's shower about twenty-five minutes after their last sexual escapade up against the wall.

Elliot nodded sleepily, "Your name is Olivia Benson. I'm happy you enjoyed the sex…" he started, "But was it me or about twenty, twenty-five minutes ago, it felt like somebody or something was watching us… I almost said something, but when I opened my eyes, and peaked over my shoulder, there was nothing there. Do I sound crazy right now?" he laid down on the couch, then pulled her down parallel to him so he was spooning her.

She shook her head, "No. You don't sound crazy, I felt it too, but didn't open my eyes frankly because I was too busy enjoying our activities to care. The only people I'd probably care about if they walked through that door would be Cragen, Fin, the Pope, your mother, and any of the kids. What time is it?"

"11:30.. Would you mind if we took a short, half hour nap right here. I feel like I'm dying from my lack of energy back here, and I want to actually make sense when we talk to Rafael." he kissed the back of her head softly. She only nodded, so he knew she was just as tired. Elliot reached for his phone, just barely grabbing it where he left it on the coffee table more than an hour before, and went to unlock his phone when he saw a missed call from Rafael…

"Damn it! Well I know what I forgot now.." he said aloud, "But I feel too tired to really even care." he whispered quietly mostly to himself. Olivia was obviously already asleep since she didn't even jump when he spoke out. He unlocked his phone, sent a quick text to Rafael: Sorry for not calling Raf, come over in an hour & a half & we can talk, Liv will be here also. -El

Elliot got a reply back about two minutes later: It's cool, drove by, didn't see your Jeep, so kept going. See you at 1:00! Tell Liv a quick hello for me. -Raf

Jeep won't be here, drove it to Livs, then took her SUV here. & I will tell her for you. -El

10-4 sir, & thanks! -Raf

With that, Elliot set the alarm on his phone for 12:40PM and set it in his back pocket. If he didn't hear it, he'd sure feel it.

-An hour and ten minutes later at 12:40PM-

"Liv, babe, we gotta get up, Rafael will be here in about twenty minutes." he shook her lightly. He, himself, had woken up about ten minutes before his phone went off. He stayed where he was, just relishing in the fact that the Olivia Benson was laying with his arm around her. She had turned over in her sleep at some point so when he first woke up she was the first thing he saw, and he was blown away somewhat by her raw beauty. Of course he'd seen her dressed to the nines before, and even when she was sick over the years, but being this close, with nothing between them, Olivia Benson was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

He saw some lines that weren't there from before, that she obviously had gained while he was gone, she had freckles that he had never seen before, her eye lashes were long, and dark, her eye brows were also dark, but not quite black. Being this close to her, within six inches, he couldn't get enough of her. If Rafael wouldn't be here within the next twenty minutes, he'd want to be entangled with her again, but he restrained himself.

Talking to Rafael was the first step of getting the people she wanted to approve of their new found relationship status, to approve. Even if she didn't admit it out loud, he knew that she wanted the approval of her squad. More so with Fin than with everyone else since he knew them before everything seemed to go to hell. But Rafael was a part of that, and the fact that him and Elliot actually knew each other would make this somewhat easier so it wasn't all on her. He shook his head again, she wouldn't have much chance to wake up if he kept spacing out thinking about things.

"Olivia, sweetheart, you need to wake up. Rafael is going to be here in fifteen minutes." he shook her a little bit harder than before.

"Ughhh, I don't want to wake up! You're so warm!" she complained like a small child, pushed him until she got him to roll on his back and so she was now laying on his chest. Once she did, she opened her eyes to him. "Hello there." she grinned.

"Hi there beautiful lady, did you sleep well?" he grinned back.

She blushed from his compliment, "About as well as one can when they sleep with their lover on the couch." Olivia chuckled.

"Is that how we are going to refer to each other? Lovers I mean." he wrapped his arms around her waist.

She thought about it for a few seconds, "I guess so.. I don't really know any other way to describe us. Do you?"

He shook his head, "Can't say that I do. Significant other, but that feels.. I don't know, too long to describe us. We can always just say that we're dating, and if anything changes, we'll change to go along with it.."

"Good idea. I thought I heard you say that you remembered what you forgot just as I went dead out… Did you?" she asked.

He nodded this time, "Yeah I did. I had forgotten when Rafael had called me late Thursday night, to tell me to start to your place and gave me your address, I had told him to come by today at 11:00 unless we called him with a different time. So obviously I forgot to call him to come by at 1:00 instead, which when he'll be here. I saw that he had called me at like ten till eleven, I'm guessing to ask if 11:00 was still good or not. Since our amazing activities were a bit distracting, I obviously didn't hear my phone ringing. All is well though, I sent him a text saying sorry, and to come by at 1:00. He said it was fine, that he drove by and didn't see my Jeep, and thought that I wasn't home or something so he kept going. He says hello by the way.. He asked me to tell you that." he chuckled. "I told him that my Jeep was in Manhattan, and we drove here in your SUV."

She smiled, "Well, I guess it could've been something worse you forgot about. What time do you expect your mom and the kids to be back? I think this has been the longest time I've been away from Noah without being at work. Shit! My phone! I'll be right back!" with that she jumped up, and ran to get her phone. She came back a minute later and sat next to him with a smile on her face.

"What?" he grinned at her. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You're smiling.. somethin is up." he chuckled.

"You know me so well, even after all this time, and honestly sometimes it scares me to death. But a majority of the time, it has its ways of working out. But I was smiling because your mother hasn't called, but Maureen sent me a text. Want to see it?" she had a mothers glow, so he knew it was something she was proud of.

"Sure, what did that boy of yours do to make you proud? And if you're wondering how I know, it's because of your glow. You're proud of something he did right?"

She reached out and cupped his face, kissed him slightly, as she was pulling away from the kiss, she stated, "You are real. I told you, it scares me how well you know me. In any case, here, look for yourself." she gave him her phone, and pushed play. He smiled and looked at her after the short video was over, and she was glowing even more than before, smiling brightly.

"You have the best smile in the world.. But in relation to this video, I can't think of a reason not to smile. He certainly has your personality even if he isn't yours biologically. To answer your question from before you took off to get your phone, my mom was going to take them for a day in the park. I text her before you got back in here, and she said they were going to be back here at like 6:30, maybe 7:00. So we've got plenty of time." he kissed the side of her neck as she turned and put her feet on the couch, and was laying across him, with her back against the end cushion.

"You know I have work tomorrow, and I actually need to be able to walk right? I mean, I don't care where you stay, but Noah and I definitely have to go back to the city tonight. I care, but you get what I mean, right?" she looked at him, and set her phone on the end table for the time being.

He bobbed his head up and down, "Of course I know what you're talking about. And yes, I obviously know you have work tomorrow.. Sadly. I wish I could spend a million free days with you." he cupped her cheeks to turn her head his way and started kissing her. She cupped his cheeks as she straddled him, and both started to deepen it quickly by granting the other access to their mouths. Elliot had just leaned her down on the couch, him over her in the opposite direction they were just siting, when there was a knock on the door.

"Damn you Rafael!" both uttered at the same time. They both started laughing, and Elliot was still was chuckling as he opened the door.

"Hello!" Elliot said as he opened the door.

"Did I miss all the fun or something?" the familiar voice of Rafael Barba asked.

Elliot shook his head, "No, not really.. Just talking with Liv, and she said something funny. But come in, come in, we aren't going to have this conversation on my mother's door step." he stepped out of the way of the door for Rafael to come in.

"This is your mothers house?" Rafael stepped into the house, looked at the wall where he'd previously seen the two people he was now going to talk to, then looked in at Olivia.

"Hi Olivia! Where's Noah? I'm surprised he's not out here with you guys.." Rafael walked into the living room, after Elliot took his coat.

She smiled slightly, "Rafael! Hello! And he's ugh, he's with Bernie for a day at the park. Elliot and I needed to talk about some stuff, and she figured it'd be easier for us to talk if we didn't have a small toddler to contend with.. But trust me, it wasn't easy deciding to let him go. How are you today though? Want anything to drink?"

"Well dang, I was hoping to see my nephew, but I'll see him sometime soon I'm sure. I can only imagine how it felt.. And I'm- I'm doing alright, enjoying my day off, as you know with this job, it's hardly concrete when you get days off. Especially for you, I'm just the guy that has to tell the jury everything you and your squad get me to prove the scum is guilty. In any case, ughh, what do you have?" he asked.

"El, what all do we have? Bottled water, sweetened tea, milk…" she asked Elliot, and Rafael's suspicion of them being former lovers or something close was heightened when Olivia said we and not you.

"Well, it depends on if he wants something strong, or kid stuff.." Elliot looked to Rafael.

"A bottle of water will probably be best for now. Thanks." Rafael nodded, mostly to himself. When Olivia got up off the couch to go get his bottle of water, Rafael noted that she limped the slightest bit, hardly noticeable, but there nonetheless.

"So Rafael Alejandro Barba! How've you been for the last twenty-something years sir?" Elliot chuckled and sat down next to where Olivia would be presumably be sitting. He stuck his hand out to shake Rafael's hand.

Rafael took it, shook it and smiled, "Not too bad Elliot Joseph Stabler! Worked in the Brooklyn District Attorney's office until a spot it the Districts Attorney's office opened up in Manhattan. Couldn't afford not to transfer, always loved Manhattan, ever since I was a kid. You probably remember that though. We can get into specifics later, how about yourself?"

"That's why you are here! Once Liv gets back, we'll mutually tell you, though, it's going to be partially tricky since you've known me up until December of '94, but after that you haven't seen or heard from me. I've known Liv since -" he was cut off by Olivia herself,

"Sorry to interrupt, but Elliot, do you have anymore apple sauce? I can't find any, so can you come help me to find some, please?" she looked at him pointedly. Thankfully he understood that she wanted to talk, and excused himself from Rafael's presence. She walked into the kitchen, and turned around with him right behind her. "We should've talked about how we're going to go about this before he got here… But in any case, have you've noticed how he's looked at us? I don't want to sound like John, but something is up with him. I've known him for nearly three years now, and he's never been so -so I don't know.. Jittery, jumpy, I'm not sure how to describe it.." she whispered fiercely.

Elliot shook his head, "No, I haven't. Maybe he's just nervous.. The two of us haven't seen each other outside of Tuesday in twenty-one years Liv, let's give him a little bit more time, if we have to, we'll ask him about it. How do you want to go about this?" he asked.

"I think we should give him a brief overview, then if he wants to ask about anything specific he can ask questions after. You can start." She whispered and stated walking to grab the bottles of water, and before she got to the fridge, he turn her around and kissed her.

Before she could ask what it was for, he smiled and quietly said before letting her go, "Just in case I don't get to do it again for a few hours. And to tell you I love you."

She smiled, "I love you too." She grabbed the bottles of water, and an apple sauce for her, and walked back into the living room with Elliot a few paces behind her.

"Sorry about that, I couldn't find any apple sauce and I'm hungry." she smiled at Rafael and sat across from him, while Elliot sat next to her.

"It's alright, if I wouldn't have eaten something before I came, I'd be damn near starving right now." Rafael chuckled, "I swear sometimes I feel like I'm seventeen again, especially now that Elliot is back in town. I've always wondered what happened to you, like you somehow missed the first couple of months, then you got to graduate in December.. I mean, damn, nearly everyone was jealous of you! Except that Kathy Malone bitch -sorry for the language- that you were dating since like New Year's of '94. Remember her Elliot? She was pretty, but damn.. After you graduated early, she nearly slept with all of the guys we hung out with, at least that's what they all were bragging about that they got to sleep with the one and only Kathy Malone! I never did, because frankly, I didn't know if you guys had broken up, or if you two were still dating… I just didn't know, and I had no idea where you were."

Elliot looked over to Olivia who nodded her head.

"I forgot a spoon! We took so much time looking for the stuff, I forgot I can't eat it with just my fingers or tongue, though since you guys are males, you'd probably enjoy that wouldn't you? Don't answer that." she looked between the two, Elliot was just smirking, shaking his head, but Rafael seemed a little too excited at the idea. That is not normal for him… What the hell is up with him today?! Olivia thought as she made her way into the kitchen quickly to get a spoon, then quickly walked back. She apparently hadn't missed anything, because Elliot was -intionally?- chugging his water.

"Thisty Elliot?" she asked him with a raised brow. He just nodded his head, she could tell he was bothered by what Rafael had just told him, but to an average person he'd just look shocked.

"So Rafael, we've -Liv and I- decided we're going to tell you the basics of our background, how we know each other, that sort of thing. We'd appreciate it if you leave any comments or questions until we're finished. I don't mean to be an asshole, but I know this probably won't be the best, but outside of my family, you're the first of five people we've gotta talk to. I'm willing to bet nobody will be happy with Liv for accepting me back so easily, especially Fin. Until we talk to everyone, this doesn't leave this house. Can you accept that?" Elliot looked at him, saw a light go on in his eyes slightly, but he nodded his compliance.

Elliot smiled slightly, he knew this was going to be interesting when Rafael was allowed to talk next. "Okay, you asked if I remembered Kathy Malone.. She's actually the whole reason I had to graduate early. As you said, we had been dating, well after our Junior Prom, she decided to announce that she thought she was pregnant. I wanted to do the right thing, so we got married at the court house. The next day, I went and signed up for the Marines. I left for basic, then to my advanced training, which is why I was late coming back into senior year. Obviously when I got back from basic she told me that she wasn't pregnant, though she loved me and wanted to try to make it work. Even after I was told I'd be going to Camp Casey, South Korea. By what you said, she obviously didn't.

Anyway, I got back to the states in time for our third anniversary, June 12, 1997. I was officially in the Marines Corps Reserves, so I applied for the police academy, got accepted in September. I had no doubt's I'd be accepted since I was an MP -Military Policeman- in the Corps. Anyhow, I was accepted, and about a few months or so later, we found out Kathy was in fact pregnant. A little girl we found out around Christmas." he paused to smile. "Maureen Rosalyn. Born June 19, 1998. I was a beat cop still, but between that and getting a bit from the reserves, we were doing okay. Kathy was finishing up nursing school, when we were shocked to find out she was pregnant again sometime late April. Then I found out that my captain approved my transfer request to go to SVU in May of 1999. Mid August, we told my mother Kathy was expecting again, and that I was at SVU. Mid September, SVU gained a very valuable asset on our team.. She's sitting right next to me now." Elliot patted Olivia's knee, and left his hand there. "So that's how we met. She was my best friend from the start."

Olivia looked over to Rafael, and could tell he was thinking what almost everyone else had thought when they saw them working together, "Rafael, I -and Elliot to probably- know what you're thinking. We never had a relationship outside of work. We did, but it was a friendship, nothing less, nothing more. That's not to say I didn't want more, but I knew Elliot was faithful to his wife. His second daughter, Kathleen Bernadette, was born on February 22, 2000. I covered for him, he covered for me. If you look up the best closure and conviction rate in NYPD partner history, it'll be us. Our rate was damn near ninety-seven percent. Did we have our hiccups and fights over the years? More than you know. I even requested a new partner a few times. I went undercover by myself more than once. I was sexually assaulted during one of those times, if it hadn't been for Fin, I would've been raped. Other times, Elliot went undercover. I had to act like a damn prostitute once to get him out of being killed on the spot. We've gone undercover together more than once, we had each others backs more times than I could even count. I'll let him continue for why we haven't seen each other for nearly four years. I think you need to hear it from him." she looked over at Elliot, and he nodded.

He took a deep breath, and looked to where Rafael was, "Before I go into anything as to why I left, I'm going to tell you the last little bit about my family. As Liv said, the second pregnancy ended up with another little girl, Kathleen Bernadette, born on February 22, 2000." he stops and smiles again. "That's not all the kids I have," he chuckles, "I have twins, Richard Carter and Elizabeth Caroline, that were born on July 16, 2006, and then my youngest, Elliot Joseph Stabler Jr., born on December 7, 2010. He was actually delivered by Olivia on the way to the hospital. I couldn't get Kathy to an appointment, so Liv was taking her.. They ended up being hit by a drunk driver on Kathy's side, and the impact induced her labor. Though she had a concussion, Liv radioed for a bus, and was the first one to hold Eli. I wish I could say things were great after that.. But can't say it because things went to hell a lot faster than any of us could comprehend.

We -Olivia, Fin, Munch, and I- had been working on a case, long story short, the daughter of the victim -Jenna- was probably around fourteen, fifteen. She somehow got a small gun inside the precinct, she came up to our floor to see how her mother's case was going, we told her that the guy was in the holding cell, just waiting for the transfer. Jenna nodded her head, and on her way out, asked if a specific one was her mothers killer, and not thinking, I said yes. She pulled the gun out and pointed it at the guy and opened fire. In a whirl wind, she pointed the gun at Olivia and a Sister from a church. She shot the Sister, who was right in front of Olivia. She was turning around like she was going to shoot someone else, and I took my shot. Because she was turning, it hit her in the chest. She bled out in my arms Rafael." he stopped briefly to take a deep breath.

"To add insult to injury, I left early, came home to my wife, ex-wife now, was going at it with some asshat outside while Eli was inside crying his eyes out. I moved out with the kids that day when they got home, and gave her divorce papers within a month. I moved in with my sister near the Jersey boarder with the kids. I called up an old Marines buddy of mine, and asked if there was anything I could do to get out of the area for a while. He had told me that unless I was willing to go over to Iraq, then no, there wasn't really anything. I really didn't want to leave my kids, but I just needed to get out of the area, away from the demons I had in my head, in my chest, in my dreams. IAB had always been extremely hard on Liv and I.. Mostly me, for good reason most of the time, so when I shot Jenna, I figured I had no future with the NYPD, so I acted on instinct and said that I would be able to go to Iraq. I spent the summer with my kids, making sure they knew I loved them, and that I was doing it for them.

They were all really too young to really understand, but Maur and Katie understood that I was going to a place I may never return alive from. It killed me to see them cry when we went to the airport for me to go South Carolina for a mini boot camp, to be sure I was up for it, but I had convinced myself that it was for the best. I passed the boot camp thing with flying colors, I flew right from where I was, because I knew if I came back here, I would'nt have been able to say goodbye again. To my kids and to the city that held the woman I should've been with my entire life." he looked at Olivia, looked down at his feet and continued, "The rest doesn't really matter, as I'm here alive, and for the most part, well." he had to wipe his eyes and face of the tears. He sniffed a few times before looking up at Rafael. He could tell Rafael was itching with questions because he was fidgeting with his fingers. "I've got nothing left to say in this discussion, so unless Liv does, you can stop fidgeting Raf, you can ask or comment whatever you want to." he was nervous to see what the shorter, but smarter all around, man would say if he was honest with himself.

"I've got nothing.." Olivia said, and both men could tell she was nervous. She gave herself away with her knee bouncing in tune with Elliot's heart beat.

Elliot looked at her, silently asking if she truly didn't have anything and she shook her head slightly, "Okay." Elliot took another deep breath, "So Rafael, what are your questions, comments, or concerns?"

"Are you two dating now that you are back?" it was directed at Elliot, but Olivia spoke up first.

"Yes. As Elliot said in the beginning, until we talk to everyone else, the words spoken here are to stay in these four walls. Know that you are the only one outside of his family and your mother that he's back, and that we are talking. If somebody from my squad comes up and asks me about it, you'll be the one to get the blame for blabbing your mouth. Next question." she hadn't meant to be so forceful with her answer, but it seemed to have the desired affect on Rafael. He just nodded, and swallowed hard, before asking,

"How old were both of you when you first met?"

"Twenty-two. I was going to be twenty-three in a month." Elliot replied.

"I had turned twenty-two in January." Olivia said after Elliot.

Rafael nodded his head. "Care to stand up for a second Elliot?" Elliot rose an eyebrow at him, "Please?" Elliot reluctantly stood. He was an easy five-six inches taller than his old friend, even without shoes. Rafael looked up at him, "Just because you're bigger, taller, and back doesn't mean shit. You hurt her-" he pointed to Olivia, "I will find a way to kill you myself. She's been through enough shit these past four years than I've ever even thought one person could, but guess what? She's made it through, and any day now she'll be allowed to adopt Noah. Don't make her regret bringing you back into her life Elliot. She's got a son now. She's-" he was cut off by Olivia.

"She's right here. I can fight my own battles, I make decisions in my life, not you." Olivia looked pointedly at the ADA.

"I know you can, but I figured if I was the first, he'd know what to expect from Fin and Amaro. Carisi won't give two shits, and I can't say for what Amanda will do. Now sit down, you both said I could ask anything, so I'm going to." he snapped at her.

"You keep talking to her like that, and I don't give a shit what I or she said in the beginning, you'll be out that door faster than you can say assault Rafael." Elliot was starting to get annoyed now. Yelling at him was one thing, but to snap at Olivia was entirely uncalled for.

"Whatever." Rafael looked at Olivia, then Elliot, and finally decided to sit back down. He knew Olivia could beat his ass, and there was no question whether or not Elliot could. As he sat down, so did they. Elliot grabbed a hold of Olivia's hand and interlocked their fingers.

-End Chapter Nineteen-

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this is so late! It's been crazy at my household, trying to make sure everything is boxed, everything labeled correctly, ect, ect.. And I got good news, I move a week from today (5/22), so that's when stuff goes off here, but I should have internet by the end of the weekend at the new place depending on how the weather is. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. It's not the greatest in my opinion, but it's not the worst either, so just let me know what you liked, or didn't like if that was the case. I was a little unsure of how I wanted Rafael to be, as he wasn't there right away when Elliot left. I have a few ideas how I want Fin to find out floating in my head, but don't worry, it won't be him walking in on the two of them unlike Rafael. Though I do want to know if you guys think Rafael should bring it up at any point… I promise I will have at least a mini chapter up (compared to this one at just over 7000 words) by the end of the weekend if everything goes to plan. Thank you for reading and as always, YOU do matter, don't let anyone tell you differently. Bye for now!

Quick PS: I'll follow along with the show maybe and have Nick leave, as I can think of a few scenarios as to why he'd need to, but I won't send him off to Cali. And I refuse to bring up what it seems to be causing quite a rift between fans, because I'm on the fence about it, I don't like what was said, yes, but overall, it could've been worse. So there is my statement on it.